Warrington Wolves talking points before Challenge Cup Final

It will soon be time to grab the tickets, don your primrose and blue and head south to Wembley Stadium for Saturday's Challenge Cup Final.

Warrington Wolves are trying to get their hands on silverware for the first time in five years, but they face a daunting if exciting clash with neighbours Wigan Warriors in order to do so.

Our Wire reporter Matt Turner has picked out five key talking points ahead of the game below...

The dream final?

Well that very much depends on where your allegiances lie.

If you’re a fan of either these great local rivals, the victory will be made so much sweeter because of who the vanquished opponent is.

But by the very same token, defeat will sting so much more.

For the neutrals, this is set up beautifully – two of Super League’s most impressive sides who are yet to meet each other (at full strength that is), head-to-head on the biggest stage with little to separate them.

With a dry day forecast, the weather looks as though it’s going to play ball which will suit both sides’ penchant for the expansive and the well-renowned speedsters on either team.

All of the ingredients are there, but what kind of mixture will be made?

One of these two men - Wire's George Williams and Wigan skipper Liam Farrell - will be lifting the Challenge Cup trophy on Saturday (Image: SWPix.com)

Burgess’ toughest call – who makes the bench?

In theory at least, most of the Warrington Wolves team for Saturday picks itself.

Barring any setbacks late in the day – or ones during the week that Sam Burgess has kept us in the dark about – you can pretty much hang your hat on 16 of the 17, with Jordy Crowther fit to come back in after a shoulder issue.

Joe Philbin would have made up that 17 were it not for an adductor muscle injury, so there appears to be a spot up for grabs.

The three men who look like favourites for it – props Joe Bullock and Max Wood and homegrown second-rower Adam Holroyd – all had chances to put themselves in the shop window during Saturday’s Super League game against Wigan, and they all did their chances no harm.

Against a monstrous Wigan pack, Bullock’s extra size may just tip the balance in his favour, but Burgess has shown trust in both Wood and Holroyd in these types of games before now.

The head coach has had what he described as “his toughest week” in terms of selection, and we’re about to see the results of his brain-wracking.

Joe Bullock is looking to earn a place in Wire's Wembley team (Image: Neil Ashurst/P&B Pictures)

Who was right? All will become clear…

Burgess and his Wigan counterpart Matt Peet took differing selection approaches to last weekend’s Super League game between the two clubs – the former made 12 changes while the latter fielded a much stronger side in pursuit of victory.

They got the job done, but not without a cost with Adam Keighran’s red card and Tyler Dupree’s senseless headbutt on Sam Powell costing them both a place at Wembley.

With a much-changed and largely inexperienced Wire side coming agonisingly close to pulling off a shock win, many gave them the moral victory and some kind of psychological advantage heading into Wembley Week.

However, we will only find out which coach took the right approach on Saturday evening.

Sam Burgess and Matt Peet in conversation before Saturday's Super League game (Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

Why Drinkwater’s role is so important

As recently as a few weeks ago, being a central part of Wire’s Wembley plans looked a distant prospect for Josh Drinkwater.

Indeed, there was even talk he may be allowed out on loan with clubs having enquired about his availability after Leon Hayes cemented his place as George Williams’ partner.

However, the heart-breaking and likely season-ending ankle injury suffered by the youngster has presented Drinkwater with a return to the side, Wire have won every game since and he has played an increasingly important role.

The role of the scrum-half is so very crucial in these kinds of games, with Drinkwater tasked with taking the organisational strain off Williams to allow the England skipper to be at his devastating best.

Off the ball, too, he has a big job to do – Wigan’s Junior Nsemba found his way through him to score at the weekend and Peet will no doubt be trying to craft opportunities to get the hulking back-rower one-on-one with him close to the line again.

Drinkwater is not the first half-back Nsemba has swatted away, nor will he be the last, but how he stands up to him will be so very important.

Is it Wire’s turn?

“Wigan are winning everything so I guess it’s up to us to take it off them.”

Those were Sam Burgess’ words after the semi-final victory over Huddersfield Giants and now, that daunting but exciting task lies before them.

Under Peet, Wigan have won every trophy available to them and defeats in these kinds of “big games” during his tenure are limited to a 2022 Super League semi-final loss to Leeds Rhinos and a golden-point defeat to Hull KR in the last four of last year’s Challenge Cup. Even the mighty Penrith Panthers found them too tough a nut to crack in the World Club Challenge.

Since they lifted the cup at Wembley in 2019, the English game’s three major trophies have resided almost exclusively within a 12-mile radius of their front door at Wigan, St Helens and Leigh Leopards.

They have endured a largely torrid time – particularly in the past two years – while watching their nearest and dearest hoover up everything in sight.

Now, it must be Wire’s turn?